Document text
Letters to the editor: Heroes of the July 4 parade I think our town of Ashland has two heroes this 4th to celebrate. I applaud the Daily Tidings editorial June 28 for recognizing Frank D'Entremont by saying: "Few have given as much to the city over the decades as this year's parade grand marshal, Frank D'Entremont. A former cop, a war veteran and now the city's volunteer coordinator, Frank has served Ashland and his country most of his 87 years." I am also excited to hear that 13-year-old Ashland resident,Jesse Stanton will ride in the parade as the national winner of Elk's essay contest. In writing "What Freedom Means to Me", he competed and won first place among 62,000 other 7th and 8th grade contestants. But my biggest applause will be at the legacy of the younger and the older generations still standing, this Fourth of July, for the ideals of "Freedom" in "one Nation Under God." While Frank D'Entremont's life wanes, Jesse Stanton's is just beginning. As a side note, for the first time in its three-year history, Willow Wind Community Learning Center will have its first American flag flying from a newly erected flagpole due to Jesse Stanton's efforts. Stanton acted on neither conservative nor liberal ideals that a country like America is worth standing up for in its "best sense." Be sure to wave to Jesse and his new 10-week old white dog, aptly named, "Freedom," in the Fourth of July parade. M. Kim Lewis, Ashland Guest forum: A case against an ordinance on home sizes By Doug Forsyth Ashland Having attended the recent meeting of the Planning and Historic commissions where the proposed new house size ordinance was discussed, I am now more concerned than ever that we are being railroaded into acceptance of an egregious piece of nonsense. How will this ordinance potentially impact us? Let me cite my own case. My wife and I own and live in a lovely 120-year-old Victorian house on Granite Street. It has been renovated over the years with various owners adding to the original house, as has been their right. Under this new ordinance - if my math is correct - the house would slightly exceed the allowable size limit. We would not be able to add a planned future extension to the kitchen nor a much needed laundry. In fact we would be stymied. Period! And so would future owners. If, like us, you live in a historic district and your house is your major asset, then be prepared to see it devalued. Be prepared for future legal creep as further ordinances are added that will further erode your private property ownership rights. I urge those, who like us, do not wish to become mere caretakers of our own property, that it is time to get involved, if you have not done so already, to push back and say enough. Let's impress upon the city council to abandon this ordinance once it is tabled and continue to get on with the business of addressing city issues that really matter. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -